Series of Walks to Focus on Cape Cod Native American History

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COURTESY OF THE HARWICH CONSERVATION TRUST: Marcus Hendricks speaks during a guided walk.

HARWICH – Temperatures are about to warm up and a series of interpretive walks next month will explore the history of Cape Cod from the First People and early European settlers to the nature of the region today.

The Harwich, Brewster and Dennis Conservation Trusts are sponsoring three walks with 12th generation Cape Codder Todd Kelley and native Nipmuc/Wampanoag Marcus Hendricks which follow a progressive story line about human settlement near freshwater sources and coastal water embayments.

Individual Walk Descriptions:

WALK #1: Harwich, Saturday, April 7th
10:00am – 12:00pm
(Rain date: Sunday, April 8th)
First People of the Herring River ValleyLearn about the fluid glacial origins and progressive shaping of Cape Cod through 6,000 years of First People settlement along the Herring River valley as we follow the water of this ancient corridor. We will consider their lifeways as early as 9,000 years ago to the first European encounters up to Verrazano c. 1524.

WALK #2: Brewster, Saturday, April 14th
10:00am – 12:00pm
(Rain date: Sunday, April 15th)
First People of Saquatucket to John Wing and Quaker Path (1659)Join the First People at Saquatucket, which means “at the outlet of a tidal river,” where a tremendous volume of fresh water drains down from High Brewster through the Stony Brook valley and intermingles. Contrast this with the early English settlement by John Wing and John Dillingham c. 1659, and how the simple Quaker Path from the Dillingham house to Bass River Village relates to the formation of the Yarmouth Quaker Meeting.

WALK #3: Dennis, Saturday, April 21st
10:00am – 12:00pm
(Rain date: Sunday, April 22nd)Ralph of Nobscusset to Rafe of Portanimicut (1643-1816) and Indian Town (1713) to Yarmouth Quaker Meeting (1714)We will start with the area known as Nobscusset and come to understand the historic period migration of this community to Potunimicut (South Orleans). Learn more about the free movement of First People along the Bass River corridor and how that changed and they either went to Potunimicut or were squeezed into an area designated “Indian Town.” We will link how the Quaker Path and the first Yarmouth Quaker Meetinghouse played a role in a more sympathetic and supportive attitude toward the First People in this area.

The cost is $45 for the series and advance registration and payment are required.